Guide to the Harry Laidler Papers TAM.047
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archive
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
10th Floor
New York, NY 10012
(212) 998-2630
tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu
Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Collection processed by Tamiment staff, 2010; Edited to reflect additional processing, 2010
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on June 01, 2018
Description is in English using Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Descriptive Summary
| Creator: | Laidler, Harry W. (Harry Wellington), 1884-1970 |
|---|---|
| Title: | Harry Laidler Papers |
| Dates [inclusive]: | 1902-1970 |
| Abstract: | Harry Wellington Laidler (1884-1970), was an economist, author, educator and socialist activist. He received his B.A. from Wesleyan University (1907) where he was one of the founders of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society. He received a LL.B. from Brooklyn Law School in 1910 and a Ph.D. in political economy from Columbia in 1914. He was executive director of the League for Industrial Democracy (LID) from 1910 to 1957 and a frequent candidate for political office for the Socialist Party. He served on the New York City Council from 1940 to 1941, having been elected as a candidate of the American Labor Party, which he helped to found. The papers include radio scripts, book reviews, and correspondence (1906-1970) relating to the founding of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society and to League for Industrial Democracy (LID) activities and LID relations with the Socialist and American Labor parties, manuscripts of published and unpublished writings on a broad range of subjects, including the struggle within the LID caused by Laidler's retirement, an unpublished history of the LID, papers relating to Laidler's term (1940-1941) as a member of the New York City Council from Brooklyn, his campaigns for political office (1927-1941), the Socialist Party, the American Labor Party, the National Bureau of Economic Research, and the National Housing Conference. Includes correspondence of Norman Thomas. |
| Quantity: | 18.25 Linear Feet (37 boxes) |
| Location: | Materials stored offsite and advance notice is required for use. Please contact tamiment.wagner@nyu.edu at least two business days prior to research visit. |
| Language: | Materials are in English |
| Call Phrase: | TAM.047 |
Historical/Biographical Note
Harry Laidler, economist, author, educator and socialist activist, was born in Brooklyn, New York, February 18, 1884. He received his B.A. from Wesleyan University (1907) where he was one of the founders of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society. He received a LL.B. from Brooklyn Law School in 1910 and a Ph.D. in political economy from Columbia in 1914. He was executive director of the League for Industrial Democracy (LID) from 1910 to 1957 and a frequent candidate for political office for the Socialist Party. He served on the New York City Council from 1940 to 1941, having been elected as a candidate of the American Labor Party, which he helped to found. He was the author of many books and articles on social issues.
Scope and Contents
The papers include radio scripts, book reviews, and correspondence (1906-1970) relating to the founding of the Intercollegiate Socialist Society, experiments in industrial democracy, League for Industrial Democracy (LID) activities such as lecture tours, union organization, southern labor chautauquas, work with the unemployed, and LID relations with the Socialist and American Labor parties; manuscripts of published and unpublished writings on a broad range of subjects, including plans for the socialization of every aspect of society, criticism of the New Deal, and the struggle within the LID caused by Laidler's retirement; Pioneering in Social Education: The History of the LID, an unpublished book-length typescript plus research notes; and papers relating to Laidler's term (1940-1941) as a member of the New York City Council from Brooklyn, his campaigns for political office (1927-1941), Socialist Party (1919-1970), American Labor Party, National Bureau of Economic Research (1927-1982), and National Housing Conference (1962-1969). Includes correspondence of Norman Thomas.
Access Points
Subject Names
- Thomas, Norman, 1884-1968
- Laidler, Harry W. (Harry Wellington), 1884-1970
Document Type
- Manuscripts (document genre)
- Speeches.
- Scripts (documents)
Subject Organizations
- New York (N.Y.). City Council
- National Bureau of Economic Research
- National Conference on Housing (U.S.)
- Socialist Party (U.S.)
- United States Labor Party
- Intercollegiate Socialist Society (U.S.)
- League for Industrial Democracy
Subject Topics
- Unemployed -- United States.
- Housing -- United States.
- Socialists -- United States.
- Right and left (Political science)
Subject Places
- New York (N.Y.)
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open without restrictions.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection, created by Harry Laidler, was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date; Harry Laider Papers; TAM 047; box number; folder number; Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Other Finding Aids
A more detailed folder level description is available at the Tamiment Library. However, this description does not reflect the creation of boxes 11a and 15a, and thus the folder titles are not properly aligned with the box numbers after box 11.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Probably donated by John Laidler (Harry Laidler's son) circa 1971. The accession number associated with this gift is 1971.003. Additional materials were donated by the Laidler family in 1983.
Processing Information
Materials from box 25 were added to box 24, and box 25 has been removed from the collection. Information about the removal of box 25 was recorded in 2018.
Container List
| Container 1 | Title | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box: 1 | Three Arrows Press (Roger Payne) Correspondence |
1940's and 1950's | ||
| Box: 2 | Laidler Personal, Biographical |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 3 | Laidler 75th Birthday |
c.1959 | ||
| Box: 4 | Laidler 75th Birthday |
c.1959 | ||
| Box: 5 | Laidler 80th Birthday |
c.1964 | ||
| Box: 6 | Financial Records and Diaries |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 7 | Laidler Correspondence |
1906-1960 | ||
| Box: 8 | Laidler Correspondence |
1961-1970 | ||
| Box: 9 | Early Manuscripts |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 10 | Manuscripts, A-F |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 11 | Manuscripts, G-M |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 11a | Manuscripts, N |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 12 | Manuscripts, O-Social |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 13 | Manuscripts, Socialism-Z |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 14 | Radio Scripts, A-N |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 15 | Radio Scripts, N-Z |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 15a | Book Reviews |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 16 | Miscellaneous Writings-Articles and Book Reviews |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 17 | Miscellaneous Writings-Articles and Book Reviews |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 18 | Miscellaneous Writings-History of Intercollegiate Socialist Society and Notes |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 19 | Subject Files, A-S |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 20 | Subject Files, S-Z |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 21 | Socialist Party (U.S.) |
1939 | ||
| Box: 22 | Socialist Party (U.S.) |
1940-1970 | ||
| Box: 23 | Socialist Party (U.S.), New York State |
1928-1947 | ||
| Box: 24 | Socialist Party (U.S.), New York City; Other |
1919-1970 | ||
| Box: 24 | American Labor Party |
c.1930s-c.1940s | ||
| Box: 26 | Campaigns-Alderman, City Council, Comptroller |
1931-1941 | ||
| Box: 27 | Campaigns-Governer, Senator, City Council |
1936-1942 | ||
| Box: 28 | National Bureau of Economic Research |
1927-1966 | ||
| Box: 29 | National Bureau of Economic Research and National Housing Conference |
1962-1970 | ||
| Box: 30 | "Pioneering in Social Education; The History of the League for Industrial Democracy":
Typescript and Notes |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 31 | "Pioneering in Social Education; The History of the League for Industrial Democracy":
Notes |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 32 | "Pioneering in Social Education; The History of the League for Industrial Democracy":
Notes |
date range has not yet been determined | ||
| Box: 33 | Miscellaneous, B-C |
1925-1948 | ||
| Box: 34 | Miscellaneous, C-N |
1932-1954 | ||
| Box: 35 | Miscellaneous, R-U |
1919-1945 | ||
| Box: Shared Tamiment 023 | Campaign Banners |
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